Making Fun a Part of Your Work
You’ve probably heard all of the typical advice for artists now. Advice like:
Create things in a consistent medium.
Create a structured routine for your day in the studio.
Use the same subject matter until you identify your artistic voice.
Create a cohesive body of work.
Solid advice, but there is one key suggestion missing from this slew of guidance:
PLAY!
Uh…say what? We should spend all this time working hard to develop our unique artistic voices and get serious about pursuing all of our professional goals and then…we should carve out time for fun?
Exactly.
Making a conscious effort to play is sooooooooo important.
Why, you ask?
Because that’s how breakthroughs happen.
I have a front row seat to breakthroughs every day. As a mom of three kids, I get to watch the most joyful and curious tiny beings all day long. It’s no secret that young kids learn through play, but it’s true for adults too. At some point, (probably somewhere between Geometry and Algebra class for me) we have to learn without any of the fun, and playing to learn falls to the wayside. Growing up means facing the harsh reality that learning and fun don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand.
Play is a fundamental aspect of the creative process. We need to experiment with different materials, techniques, and subject matter to stay inspired and interested. As we experiment through play, we learn and find new methods and solutions to our creative problems.
Play has several key roles in enhancing and fostering creativity, such as:
Generating Ideas - Our minds are open to diverse thoughts when we are engaged in play, allowing us to explore out-of-the-box ideas we may not have been open to in a more structured setting.
Reducing Inhibition - At play, we can have the freedom to explore without judgement. We can release the fear of internal and external criticism, which opens us up to a natural flow of creativity.
Overcoming Blocks - When experiencing a mental or creative block, taking a break to engage in playful activities can help rejuvenate the mind. Returning to a creative task with a playful attitude can lead to fresh insights.
And these are just a few of the benefits of play. There are so many others, such as boosting motivation, maintaining curiosity, enhancing imagination, fostering collaboration, and improving problem-solving.
While play is my go-to creative block breaker, it’s important to make it a part of the creative process routinely. It helps keep creativity flowing naturally.
So if you feel the urge to go make some fun, follow your intuition. You just may be on the verge of a breakthrough.